Police officers have released the names of the two children and their father killed in a shooting in northwest Reno on Saturday.
Police say 7-year-old Jacob and 2-year-old Austin Deane were found dead along with their father, 36-year-old Rob Deane.
The murder happened in the 6300 block of Stone Valley Drive in Northwest Reno while the boys' mother was away from home. While police will not officially call it a murder-suicide, the boys' mother, Ashley Deane did.
The victims were the only ones in the home at the time of Saturday's shooting and investigators say they are not searching for any suspects.
Police cars lined the street, Saturday night investigating the three deaths.
They tried to revive one boy and got him to the ambulance. Unfortunately, it was too late. "It's difficult, anytime you have any type of victim but when you're dealing with innocent children, especially young children, that were involved with this case, it is very hard,” says Reno Police Officer Tim Broadway.
As shocking as this crime is, Broadway says it's a reminder that bad things can happen anywhere at anytime. "When it hits on your street, your neighbor that you might have said hello to, in the morning, and the next thing you know, you have all the EMS responders and the police right in your lawn, literally setting up crime scene tape. It's definitely a wake-up call and it's very sad," says Laura Garcia.
Friends of
Ashley Deane Facebook pagewas set up to help the boys' mother with expenses.
Already raised $23,000 in less than 24 hours showing the generosity of people who have never even met her. "I know that no mom deserves to go through what she's gone through. It's such a senseless event and I'm just really proud of the way Reno has come along side of her."
A candlelight vigil is set up for Sunday at 6 pm on White Fir Street just off West Fourth Street, near the Patagonia outlet.
Early Monday evening, Ashley Deane released this statement through Reno Police:
"On the evening of November 8, 2014, our family suffered an unspeakable and unimaginable tragedy. Rob Deane, the father of Jacob, age 7, and Austin age 2, suffered a mental breakdown and took the lives of his sons and then his own.
As our family begins the lifelong process of grieving, we ask for privacy and prayers for our family, for Jacob and Austin, and for Rob. The coming days, weeks, and months will all present new challenges and we ask for your peaceful strength and support.
A service for the children will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 12:00 PM at South Reno Baptist Church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Walton's Funeral Home."
(The Associated Press also contributed to this report.)
